BlueOceanSky

I appreciate the feedback and that's what i've heard about United. Are those special assignment positions at the chief pilot's office or at chicago HQ exclusive to FO's?

flensr

SWA's chief negotiator used to be a SWAPA president, which of course made him a lot of new friends. The company had a legitimate need to have a subject matter expert on their side of the table so if I recall correctly one of the asst chief pilots (who still had a seniority number) was on their side of the table in a legitimate yet somewhat conflicting role.

We also had a handful of pilots who fed the company tidbits from the SWAPA discussion forum, but of course they didn't self-identify and chose to support the company over their fellow pilots from the shadows, which just breeds distrust among the whole group with suspicion inevitably landing on anyone who spends extra time at HQ. Not fair branding all of them with the same label but fair's got nothing to do with it when a handful of pilots seem intent on backing mgt against the pilot group to the extent that everyone gets just a bit scared of the toxic backstabbing going on.

Broncofan

that’s not what I meant at all. I meant you can learn more than just flying an airplane so that in a down turn you have more skills that might make you a good applicant for other industries. You know, so your not stuck working as a Home Depot greeter. If you don’t understand that, then I guess I’ll see you at Home Depot some day.

StoneQOLdCrazy

do you think strong unionists are getting hired in these positions? That pilots who will side with their union brothers and sisters against whatever management wants are going to get the job?
c’mon, man. These “project” pilots are kool-aid drinkers to the max.
if they don’t stay on script, they’ll be “fired” back to the line and replaced by a more obedient company drone.

WHACKMASTER

That has been my observation through four airlines and 25+ years of airline flying. Not all fit that mold but it’s fairly safe to stereotype and the OP reeks of that mold.

Ice Bear

A lot of pilots get non-political assignments in the CPO / crew room / admin to be around more for their newborn or sick family member or whatever. Not every special assignment job description focuses on backstabbing other pilots. What is a sim instructor if not a special assignment?

Ice Bear

I'll also add that depending on the airline, there's a fair amount of worthwhile ALPA jobs to be done in lieu of flying as well.

rickair7777

Plent of folks in desk jobs are doing it for their own personal reasons. Obviously they cannot be vocal union agitators in and around the HQ building, but that doesn't mean they don't support the union and vote accordingly. Including most instructors.

Obviously those who are bucking for upward mobility, even into the executive ranks, are cut from a different mold altogether.

But maybe this is airline specific... out of the three where I had any SA into such things the majority of instructors have always been fine, about half the base CP's have been great or good, and the vast majority of non-leadership staff have been fine. The latter just do their job and rarely have much direct authority over pilots... worts they usually do is random, ill-conceived SOP revisions. But even so it's better to have line pilots doing those jobs, as opposed to retired pilots, pilots out on medical from other airlines, or non-pilots.

PipeMan

Nice try, but I can retire today. Already have another career that I would just do more full time should I get let go. Sorry, but your special assignment work will not save you.

Meme In Command

Bragging about "being able to retire" because of your other job is not the flex you think it is big guy.